importance of quantitative research across fields in engineering

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• Published: 17 May 2024

Towards interdisciplinary integration of electrical engineering and earth science

• Jiaqi Ruan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2584-0738 1 ,
• Zhao Xu   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4480-7394 1 , 2 &
• Hui Su   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1265-9702 3  

Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering volume  1 ,  pages 278–279 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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• Electrical and electronic engineering

The inherent differences in epistemologies and research methods in electrical engineering and earth science hinder interdisciplinary collaboration. In the context of climate change, this divide affects the shift towards long-term sustainability in global energy systems, prompting dialogue between the disciplines to enable effective interdisciplinary collaborations.

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Acknowledgements

Z.X. acknowledges support from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (AoE/P-601/23-N) and the General Research Fund of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (PolyU15209322). H.S. acknowledges support from the General Research Fund of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (project 16300823-CIVL) and Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (FA123).

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Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China

Jiaqi Ruan & Zhao Xu

Research Institute for Smart Energy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China

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Ruan, J., Xu, Z. & Su, H. Towards interdisciplinary integration of electrical engineering and earth science. Nat Rev Electr Eng 1 , 278–279 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44287-024-00042-9

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The Significance Of Scientific Inquiry & Research In Engineering

The approaches to engineering research in many ways and the resulting knowledge about the characteristics of the material world are separate from those of fundamental scientific research. Nevertheless, there are significant discrepancies between the two applications. 

• Scientific Research In A Nutshell

Basic scientific research is concerned with the discovery of new phenomena and their integration into understandable conceptual representations of primary material or physiological operations. Through interpretation, a fascinating focus of interest tends to exist at the limit of contemporary knowledge. Most scientific knowledge will encounter, in an extremely unsteady and irregular manner, technical applications of financial and cultural value, but in most circumstances, the essence of these relationships will not be obvious to those undertaking independent scientific research.

Have you carried out some great scientific research work and would like to make your work know? Then make use of the paper submission conference 2023 in Singapore – ICSET-2023 by registering and participating. 

• Engineering Research In A Nutshell

Elementary engineering research involves the exploration and methodical conceptual structuring of knowledge. Engineers develop, design, produce or construct and use devices, structures, machines, and systems of economic and societal value. Virtually all engineering research is driven by the expected value of an application. However, not all potential applications can be anticipated, and sometimes the expected application may not be as important as the one that appears by chance. The time between research and production can be a few years, as in the development and application of a laser or in the progression from the integrated circuit to the microprocessor, or it can even take decades, as in the case of the development of television.

Knowledge Creation Is The Essence Of Research 

Engineering, unlike science, is concerned not only with knowledge of natural phenomena but also with how knowledge can serve the needs and desires of humanity. Variables such as cost, user compatibility, deliverability, safety, and adaptability to various external operating conditions and environments must be considered in the design, development, operational support, and maintenance of products and services that are created by engineers. Therefore, engineering entails the combination of expertise, procedures, processes, and know-how from multiple fields. In addition, almost all university research in science and engineering is carried out as part of the advanced training of students. For most engineering students 2023 , the goal of a career in industry motivates their pursuit of advanced studies, and this will increasingly be the case in the future. For this reason, engineering students’ perspectives on research tend to be predisposed to application in the practice of engineering.

Basic sciences and mathematics have advanced rapidly in recent decades with the development of computers capable of dealing with increasingly complex problems. At the same time, the art, experimentation, and application of engineering have adopted increasingly advanced analytical and experimental methods across the spectrum of engineering fields and industrial sectors. It has been observed that certain theoretical and experimental practices are common to both scientific and engineering research. In fact, in some fields of engineering, such as electronic materials, the analytical and experimental methods and instruments used may not be distinguished from those in the basic science fields of solid-state physics and chemistry.

The upcoming Singapore international conference titled the ‘International Conference on Science, Engineering & Technology (ICSET-2021)’, which is expected to be held on the 28th & the 29th of January, 2021 is a must-attend for all those wanting to delve deeper into the differences and individual intricacies of both engineering research and scientific research. 

The Role That Both These Streams Of Research Play

The main objectives of research work are to inform action, to gather evidence for theories, and to add to the progression of expertise in a field of study. Detailed below are all the many reasons why research in both engineering and science is important to everyone, not just students and scientists. 

• Finding out why research is important seems obvious, but many people are avoiding it like the plague. Yet, for those who enjoy learning, whether or not they are members of a research institute, conducting research is not only important but also imperative.
• It is a tool to develop knowledge and facilitate learning. Research is required not just for scholars and academics but likewise for all professionals and non-professionals. It is equally important for aspiring and veteran engineers.
• For lay people who value learning, doing research equips them with essential consciousness about the universe and abilities to help them survive and enhance their lives. When it comes to research professionals themselves, on the other hand, finding something interesting to discuss and/or write about should go beyond just personal experience. Determining what the general public might want to know or what researchers want others to achieve or conceive of can be a valid reason to carry out research work. Thus, research is an essential component of knowledge production and vice versa.
• Knowledge is generally described as a factual proposition in the mind of an individual. It basically refers to facts based on objective information and/or results of studies processed by the human brain. It can be obtained in different ways including reading books and articles, listening to experts, watching documentaries or investigative broadcasts, conducting scientific experiments, and interacting with others, talking to people, etc. Facts gathered during research can be checked against other sources to ensure their truthfulness and accuracy. Three types of knowledge have been identified, namely, procedural (skill or know-how), knowledge (familiarity), and propositional (description of a fact or a state of affairs).

The highly-anticipated, upcoming engineering and technology conference 2023 – ICSET-2021 will offer more clarity to those who wish to know more in detail about the role that both engineering research and scientific research have to play in our society. 

Why Is It Important To Encourage These Streams Of Research?

• Improved Problem Solving & Conceptualization 

When tasked with finding a solution to a problem, research helps identify, assess, and collate all the technical information that one can find. This can be used to break down concepts into main ideas and then apply strategies and techniques that one may have learned to create workable solutions. This is where the research experience during one’s engineering and scientific education makes all the difference. Being able to differentiate and evaluate all data improves conceptualization, resulting in effective and efficient ideas.

• Developing A Competitive Advantage

Research is a crucial element of innovation and a key element in developing a company’s competitive advantage. This is all the more important in the highly competitive business landscape of today, where consumers are constantly demanding more innovative and more dependable products. Everybody from Big Pharma firms and chemical manufacturers to automotive brands and tech companies as well as manufacturers is investing billions of dollars to stay ahead of the curve. After all, persistent research has helped convert many problems into profitable advanced products and technologies. More importantly, it prevents companies from making any risky investment choices. 

Do you want to gain this elusive competitive advantage? Then, you should attend a conference being organized by IFERP , titled the ‘ International Conference on Science, Engineering & Technology (ICSET-2021)’. This stellar event is set to take place in spectacular Singapore on the 28th & the 29th of January, 2021. 

• Testing & Quality Assurance

Quality control holds paramount importance when it comes to developing a thriving brand that is capable of producing outcomes that satisfy or surpass consumer expectations. It furthermore constitutes the basis of an effective enterprise that reduces consumption and functions at extraordinary levels of productivity. Conversely, the lack of research can lead to unpleasant setbacks caused by dead ends or irreparable results. Simply put, branding, loyalty, and growth depend on the quality of your product and your research.

How To Spot High-Level Scientific & Engineering Research

Regardless of the types of research and studies , one thing that is important is that they all meet on a common ground of the experimental method they employ. In order for a work of engineering or scientific research to be considered high-quality, it has to meet the following criteria – 

• The objective of the research work has to be explicitly outlined, and general theories should be used.
• The research procedure used must be described in sufficient detail to make it possible for another researcher to be able to replicate the investigative work for the benefit of further improvement, preserving the flow of what has already been accomplished.
• The methodical nature of research work must be intricately predetermined in order to produce results that are as objective as possible.
• The researcher should candidly point out flaws in the design of procedures and estimate their effects on the results.
• Data analysis should be adequate enough to reveal its importance, and the analytical methods used must be appropriate. The authenticity and dependability of the data should be checked carefully.
• Outcomes should be constrained to those aided by the research data and limited to those for which the data provide an adequate basis.
• A more powerful belief in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a good research reputation, and is a person of integrity.
• Extraordinary research is always characterized by the systematic manner in which the inquiry into a certain phenomenon has been carried out. This implies that the research is structured with specified steps to be taken in a specified order according to the well-defined set of rules.
• The methodical nature of research work does not eliminate the need for creativity, but it does certainly reject the use of guesswork and intuition to arrive at conclusions.
• Good research always makes abundant sense. This is indicative of the fact that research is guided by the rules of logic and reasoning. The logical process of induction and deduction are of great value in carrying out pioneering and groundbreaking research work that is capable of shaking the very foundations of contemporary knowledge and understanding.
• Induction is the reasoning process used to understand a certain phenomenon, whereas deduction is the approach of rationalizing from an assumption to an outcome that follows from this very proposition. In actuality, logical reasoning is what gives both engineering and scientific research more meaning in the context of decision making.
• Great research work is also always factual, meaning that research is essentially linked to one or more aspects of a real situation and deals with concrete data that provide a basis for the external validity of research results.
• Top-quality research work is reproducible. This characteristic makes it possible to verify the results of the research by replicating the study and thus building a solid basis for decisions.

Problem-Solving – The Basis Of All Research

Engineers use their knowledge of science, mathematics, and relevant experience to find solutions adapted to a problem. Generating a suitable analytical model of a problem makes it possible for them to be able to analyze it (sometimes definitively) and to test the potential solutions. There are usually several reasonable solutions, so engineers should evaluate

the different design choices according to their virtues and choose the solution that best meets their demands. Statistics that have been gathered based upon the examination of a large number of patents suggest that trade-offs are at the heart of low-level engineering designs, while at a higher level, the best design is one that eliminates the core contradiction at the origin of the problem. Engineers usually attempt to premeditate how well their design specifications will perform, before proceeding to large-scale production.

They use, among other things – prototypes, models, simulations, destructive tests, non-destructive tests, and stress tests. Testing ensures that the products will perform as expected. Engineers like scientists and other tech professionals take their responsibility to produce successful designs seriously as expected and will not cause unintentional harm to the general public. Engineers generally include a safety factor in their designs to reduce the risk of failure. However, the higher the safety factor, the less efficient the design can be.

The forthcoming IFERP conference 2023 is guaranteed to help anyone who wishes to pursue a career in either engineering or scientific research gain a clear idea about exactly what these two streams of research are all about, why they are so valuable to modern society, and what makes for valuable research work. 

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Introduction to quantitative methods

Basic scientific research is concerned with the discovery of new phenomena and their integration into coherent  conceptual models of major physical or biological systems

Basic engineering research is  concerned with the discovery and systematic conceptual structuring of knowledge. Engineers develop, design, produce or construct, and operate devices, structures, machines, and systems of economic and societal value. Virtually all engineering research is driven by the anticipated value of an application.

From "What Is Engineering Research and How Do Engineering and Science Interact?." National Academy of Engineering. 1995. Forces Shaping the U.S. Academic Engineering Research Enterprise. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4933. ×

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Importance of Quantitative Research Across Fields

First of all, research is necessary and valuable in society because, among other things, 1) it is an important tool for building knowledge and facilitating learning; 2) it serves as a means in understanding social and political issues and in increasing public awareness; 3) it helps people succeed in business; 4) it enables us to disprove lies and support truths; and 5) it serves as a means to find, gauge, and seize opportunities, as well as helps in finding solutions to social and health problems (in fact, the discovery of COVID-19 vaccines is a product of research).

Now, quantitative research, as a type of research that explains phenomena according to numerical data which are analyzed by means of mathematically based methods, especially statistics, is very important because it relies on hard facts and numerical data to gain as objective a picture of people’s opinion as possible or an objective understanding of reality. Hence, quantitative research enables us to map out and understand the world in which we live.

In addition, quantitative research is important because it enables us to conduct research on a large scale; it can reveal insights about broader groups of people or the population as a whole; it enables researchers to compare different groups to understand similarities and differences; and it helps businesses understand the size of a new opportunity. As we can see, quantitative research is important across fields and disciplines.

Let me now briefly discuss the importance of quantitative research across fields and disciplines. But for brevity’ sake, the discussion that follows will only focus on the importance of quantitative research in psychology, economics, education, environmental science and sustainability, and business.

First, on the importance of quantitative research in psychology .

We know for a fact that one of the major goals of psychology is to understand all the elements that propel human (as well as animal) behavior. Here, one of the most frequent tasks of psychologists is to represent a series of observations or measurements by a concise and suitable formula. Such a formula may either express a physical hypothesis, or on the other hand be merely empirical, that is, it may enable researchers in the field of psychology to represent by a few well selected constants a wide range of experimental or observational data. In the latter case it serves not only for purposes of interpolation, but frequently suggests new physical concepts or statistical constants. Indeed, quantitative research is very important for this purpose.

It is also important to note that in psychology research, researchers would normally discern cause-effect relationships, such as the study that determines the effect of drugs on teenagers. But cause-effect relationships cannot be elucidated without hard statistical data gathered through observations and empirical research. Hence, again, quantitative research is very important in the field of psychology because it allows researchers to accumulate facts and eventually create theories that allow researchers in psychology to understand human condition and perhaps diminish suffering and allow human race to flourish.

Second, on the importance of quantitative research in economics .

In general perspective, the economists have long used quantitative methods to provide us with theories and explanations on why certain things happen in the market. Through quantitative research too, economists were able to explain why a given economic system behaves the way it does. It is also important to note that the application of quantitative methods, models and the corresponding algorithms helps to make more accurate and efficient research of complex economic phenomena and issues, as well as their interdependence with the aim of making decisions and forecasting future trends of economic aspects and processes.

Third, on the importance of quantitative research in education .

Again, quantitative research deals with the collection of numerical data for some type of analysis. Whether a teacher is trying to assess the average scores on a classroom test, determine a teaching standard that was most commonly missed on the classroom assessment, or if a principal wants to assess the ways the attendance rates correlate with students’ performance on government assessments, quantitative research is more useful and appropriate.

In many cases too, school districts use quantitative data to evaluate teacher effectiveness from a number of measures, including stakeholder perception surveys, students’ performance and growth on standardized government assessments, and percentages on their levels of professionalism. Quantitative research is also good for informing instructional decisions, measuring the effectiveness of the school climate based on survey data issued to teachers and school personnel, and discovering students’ learning preferences.

Fourth, on the importance of quantitative research in Environmental Science and Sustainability.

Addressing environmental problems requires solid evidence to persuade decision makers of the necessity of change. This makes quantitative literacy essential for sustainability professionals to interpret scientific data and implement management procedures. Indeed, with our world facing increasingly complex environmental issues, quantitative techniques reduce the numerous uncertainties by providing a reliable representation of reality, enabling policy makers to proceed toward potential solutions with greater confidence. For this purpose, a wide range of statistical tools and approaches are now available for sustainability scientists to measure environmental indicators and inform responsible policymaking. As we can see, quantitative research is very important in environmental science and sustainability.

But how does quantitative research provide the context for environmental science and sustainability?

Environmental science brings a transdisciplinary systems approach to analyzing sustainability concerns. As the intrinsic concept of sustainability can be interpreted according to diverse values and definitions, quantitative methods based on rigorous scientific research are crucial for establishing an evidence-based consensus on pertinent issues that provide a foundation for meaningful policy implementation.

And fifth, on the importance of quantitative research in business .

As is well known, market research plays a key role in determining the factors that lead to business success. Whether one wants to estimate the size of a potential market or understand the competition for a particular product, it is very important to apply methods that will yield measurable results in conducting a  market research  assignment. Quantitative research can make this happen by employing data capture methods and statistical analysis. Quantitative market research is used for estimating consumer attitudes and behaviors, market sizing, segmentation and identifying drivers for brand recall and product purchase decisions.

Indeed, quantitative data open a lot of doors for businesses. Regression analysis, simulations, and hypothesis testing are examples of tools that might reveal trends that business leaders might not have noticed otherwise. Business leaders can use this data to identify areas where their company could improve its performance.

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Quantitative research on the science sector

The science sector has been acquiring great significance for more and more areas of our society. This makes it all the more important for the science system to be structured and funded as advantageously as possible. To an increasing degree, quality and productivity issues in science and research are being studied with the help of indicators that yield information about quality, the factors that define it and the factors that bring it about. One aim of the funding line "Quantitative research on the science sector" is to make even better use of such indicators' usefulness for research on the science system – and, in the process, to develop new indicators where appropriate. Quantitative research in this context is designed to improve our understanding of the science system's workings, structural dependencies and dynamics. It also considers the impacts of data-based evaluation of research.

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